Washington Governor Calls for Universal Health
Care

January 12, 2007 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - Washington
state Governor Chris Gregoire released late Thursday the
final version of a report on health care which calls for
access to health coverage for every person in the state
within five years.

According to the Olympian, the 23-page report
includes 16 recommendations issued by the Blue Ribbon
Commission on Health Care Costs and Access, including
ensuring access to effective care for all residents by
2012. The report also calls for using state purchasing to
improve health care quality by having payments based on
good outcomes and practices.

The report also suggests reorganizing the insurance
market so it is more accessible, using possible state
subsidies and pools of insured to win better rates, as
well as improving coverage through a partnership with the
federal government, The Olympian said. The
Commission recommended giving people more choice in
selecting private insurance plans and requiring insurers
to cover dependents of insured families up to age
25.

Other recommendations in the report, according to
the Olympian, included:

Better management of patients with chronic
illnesses, which affect 5% of the population but
generate an estimated 50% of costs,